Spokane, Wash. – Extreme fire danger has prompted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fire managers to prohibit campfires in Eastern Washington, including in developed recreation areas. Managers implemented initial fire restrictions in late-June and have now updated them to prohibit thebuilding, maintaining, attending or using a fire of any type, including charcoal briquette fireson lands administered by the BLM’s Spokane District. An exemption is made for liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters provided they are used within an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.The updated fire restriction will be effective beginning at12:01 a.m.onSaturday, July 11, 2015. Fire restrictions apply to all BLM managed lands in the following Eastern Washington counties: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties. Restrictions are in place until further notice. In addition to prohibiting campfires, restrictions on the use of off-road vehicles, smoking, shooting of exploding targets and the use of fireworks is still in effect. A complete, signed fire restriction order can be found at the following websites: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/index.php

About the Salmon River Mountain Press

The Salmon River Mountain Press shares news from federal and state natural resource agencies, environmental, conservation and recreation groups in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The blog delivers the content one news story at a time.